GPSR Compliance

[bojangled]

This is as clear as mud to me. Been to the gov. advice website and various others.
How does a 1972 poster fit in to this process?

It's not an exempt category. 

Advise buyers this item is for viewing only ? 

My initial reaction, sadly, to to switch EU and NI off. 
Jo

[hart.books]

Buttons and knitting patterns are among the categories excluded according to eBay's full list of excluded categories! 

[jeznorthbay]

Then stop bringing up comments about the EU that are based on political spin. You keep doing that it's not helpful.

[jeznorthbay]

Exactly. Guidance on how to comply not whether you do or don't have to. That is the reality we need to deal find ways to deal with or lobby to have changed. Politicians & civil servants give answers that are designed to appease so that, in effect, the uproar settles down. 

[knit-in-styles]

Really? I checked the GPSR for categories on ebay this morning but was in a rush so didn't see there was a spreadsheet with all the excluded categories.

However looking at the list these are under:

Collectables: Sewing Buttons Contemporary 1981-Now

Collectables Sewing Buttons antique

Collectables Sewing Buttons Vintage

I have mine listed under:

Sports hobbies and leisure crafts sewing closure and connectors buttons

I never knew the collectables buttons was a category and would think if people search via categories, they will not think to look under collectables.

Cannot see knitting patterns on that list.

[jeznorthbay]

Does anyone have a link to these exempt categories on Ebay? 

Of course, the problem is still that customs staff won't spend time looking at an Ebay spreadsheet or website. 

[knit-in-styles]

https://www.ebay.co.uk/sellercentre/global-sales/general-product-safety-regulation

If you scroll down the left hand side there is a FAQ "which categories are excluded" expand that and it lists the categories and also directs you to a spreadsheet.

[4_bathrooms]

---

@jeznorthbay wrote:

Does anyone have a link to these exempt categories on Ebay? 

Of course, the problem is still that customs staff won't spend time looking at an Ebay spreadsheet or website. 

---

Here you go. Note that spreadsheet is for categories eBay won't force compliance upon (whenever they actually start doing that...); it isn't anything to do with what will be checked at customs.

[carogojo]

I agree. I sell cotton fabric. Never knew it could be dangerous ! The
whole thing is just crazy.

[unwinsbooks]

No mention of knitting patterns, but on the link 4_bathrooms has provided, item 3 on the spreadsheet is:

3

606

Collectables:Sewing:Patterns

L3

1

Collectables

113

Sewing

606

Patterns

606

Patterns

606

Patterns

606

Patterns

606

Patterns

[knit-in-styles]

Thanks but again they are not collectables. I have my knitting patterns under

 

• Sports, Hobbies & Leisure
• Crafts
• Needlecrafts & Yarn
• Crocheting & Knitting
• Patterns

However knitting patterns are easier to add the details as I expect the manufacturer will be the likes of Sirdar, King Cole etc who all produce knitting patterns.

I have turned off EU and NI as this is really too much hassle. Just looked at loads of competitors selling buttons and they all have them listed in the same category as me so NOT collectables. Not one seller has the new GPSR details and some still posting to EU and NI.

[russellmattin]

I don`t think he`s been anti EU just stating the facts that

1    the EU introduced this,

2   its crazy that it applies to so many totally safe items eg collectibles/ephemera

3   they don`t explain how we can comply with so many items eg leaflets, postcards, maps

4   they don`t explain how it will be policed

5   it presumably applies to sales within the EU as well as coming in to them??

6   if even a big organisation like ebay dont have a clue how can individual sellers work it out...seems from these threads that many have been trying to do the work of the EU. Govt and ebay

            If point 5 is correct I am now actually glad we left EU or my business would be killed off overnight, I hope the similar parity UK legislation being considered is abandoned or becomes like previous H&S regulations such as PAT testing which seem to more or less become ignored in the selling markets after an initial 3 month panic

[jeznorthbay]

The frustration is down to previous comments also & I think your list shows how problematic such comments can be as it distorts peoples view.

Yes, the EU has introduced this legislation, but other governments / trading blocks have similar legislation going through or drafted. The point is that the UK refused to take part in the process of both discussion & notifying businesses because of the pro-brexit attitude. This legislation has technically been active since 2023 but as we all know there has been hardly any mention of it here & that is down to anti-EU views instead of having a reasoned discussion. 

It is daft & as has been mentioned it seems obvious that it wasn't intended to have some of the effects it is having, but, again looking at it with reason, if the idea is to protect consumers from unsafe products, if it doesn't apply to all shipments how could it be successfully run if customs staff had to be able to know the difference between a parcel sent by a genuine, safe seller on, for example, Ebay & one from a dodgy company in China either trading under an obvious name / address or via a patsy.

The legislation does explain, just not about each specific type of product, which would be impossible.

The legislation does explain how it will be monitored. 

It does apply in the EU as well, but sellers their have had several years of detailed information (the Dutch website is really clear & useful for business in the EU for example). They don't need to pay for a rep as they are already inside the EU. I know lots of people who are in business in the EU, in large companies & artisans & whilst they are frustrated by some aspects of it, they have been given support to adapt where needed. There are active negotiations & consultations around cultural businesses & artisanal products on going with various EU countries. The UK has refused all EU invites so far, unlike lots of other non-EU countries.

Being outside the EU is problematic for this legislation & folks with anti-EU views can't get passed that & understand that every other non-EU country is trying to get to grips with this & most are in active discussions with the EU. 

[russellmattin]

Interesting thanks for your response. It is certainly an issue but I just closed off EU/NI sales before 13th because I couldn`t comply and due to the ever increasing/high price of international postage over recent years my international sales had dropped from around 10% to about 2% anyway so its no real problem for me not selling to the EU. 

I would politely suggest you dont refer to people`s brexiteer views in a derogatory way as you yourself are clearly showing your remainer views...everyone is entitled to their views equally. The two sides need to stop criticizing each other and just deal with the solutions - which is what youve been saying and what most people on these threads seem to have been trying to do

[jeznorthbay]

Yes, I am European but standing up against anti-EU distortion of facts & how previous comments distracted from the issues is not showing 'remainer views'. The reason we are in a lot of mess, including higher postage costs, is precisely because of such things & why aiming for solutions is harder. Perhaps you should aim your comments at the person who first started expressing anti-EU views. 

[russellmattin]

my comments are aimed at everyone

[trafton.-47]

Can we just leave the politics out of this? It doesn't contribute anything useful and is divisive.

Personally, I find it irritating to have someone who knows nothing about me ascribe to me (and to others) views that I don't hold and to misrepresent what I'm trying to say. 

To reiterate: GPSR applies to companies and individuals equally, whether they are inside the EU or outside it. The difference is that those outside must pay for the services of an authorised representative. That is, undoubtedly, a significant additional expense, especially for sole traders and SMEs.

My main recent point is simply that Art.17 of the regulation itself requires the EC to provide guidance specifically aimed at people like us, as Didier Reynders stated in his written answer to the European Parliament. So far as I know, that hasn't happened. So if anyone here can use their EU and non-EU contacts to lobby MPs and MEPs etc to hurry up and provide that guidance, it would be very helpful.

I really don't see how that can be construed as any kind of 'Brexiteer' view. And criticising the individual actions, or inaction, of an institution does NOT make you pro or anti that institution. If I moan at my wife for leaving her clothes in the bathroom, it does not mean I want to leave her!

I hope that makes it clear and we can now move on to more constructive and helpful comments.

[kaz-sandvika]

Thanks for the list of excluded categories.  Where can I see the list of included categories..Would you mind sending me a link.  Also, did you turn off EU and NI by excluding those countries from your postage policy?  I hope you don't mind me asking as I am not sure if I am doing the right thing

[cooksongold]

Why would they do a specific list of included categories? 

Thats just everything else. So you should be able to get a list of ALL ebay categories, then remove the exclusions.

[jeznorthbay]

You might want to look up the definition of gaslighting. I would remind you that it was you that first commented with unfounded & clearly anti-EU statements, misleading others in the conversation & when you were asked to stop doing that a number of people gave a thumbs up. There's no point trying to blame others for situations, where here or brexit in general, that you caused. You don't seem to understand, or have any sympathy for sellers in other countries who face hurdles sending to the UK since brexit, so whilst I am as frustrated as anyone with the unworkable aspects of GPSR, it is more helpful for everyone if the conversation isn't via distorted views of the EU. All political & legislative organisations are complex & often problematic, but, as the EU have stated recently, the time for discussion & representation was during the consultation phase & the UK was one of only a handful of countries globally that refused to do that. 

The reply to the question in the EU you mention is a 'political' one & no different from the standard reply the UK Government is currently giving whenever they are asked about it. As for countries in the EU or who have & are taking part in the discussions, guidance has been issued regularly. The Tory government refused to take part & closed the office that would have dealt with such conversations. 

So, as long as there aren't any other untruths or distortions mentioned you won't be challenged on them. 

[asd429]

I'm really completely confused by all this. The exempt categories include food, alcohol, medicines, diet supplements etc.  which can all pose safety dangers. As an aside, would it be as simple as a book seller to move all listings over to Antiquarian/Collectable?